26 – Night Shift

Zoe was driving more hastily than she normally would. She was about 10 MPH above the speed limit. She didn’t look as if she was chasing anything down, though. She looked like she had just found some sort of joy.

“It isn’t every day I get to hear you admit you were wrong, Fifteen,” Zoe smiled and laughed.

“I suppose you’ll just relish this while you can.” I crossed my arms, and looked out of the window.

“I told you that I was going to tell her if you wouldn’t. Honestly, I don’t know why she still gravitates towards you. That doesn’t matter, you finally realised you’re capable of making a mistake!” Zoe took a quick turn at one of our stations, and we waited there for anyone who might do anything illegal.

“Yes, I’m aware. What I wasn’t aware of was the time restraint you were going to give me. You gave me less than a day.”

“I’m not a very patient person, pal. At least, not with issues like this. Someone had to put you in your place.” Zoe tapped the steering wheel with her fingers. It looked like she was tapping out the beat to some song.

“It doesn’t matter. I was going to tell her that same night anyway. There’s just something that eludes me.” I looked back toward Zoe. She continued tapping the upbeat beat.

“What would that be, little one?” She looked over toward me at this point, but her facial expression didn’t change.

“Shelby wasn’t angry. She just accepted what it was and moved along. I would have been furious if I had found that I had been lied to in such a grandiose manner.” I scratched the bottom of my jaw, right where it connects with the throat.

“You don’t have to accept if you don’t want to, Annabelle,” I interjected. Annabelle did have the right to choose this, whether Zoe like it or not.

“Will you be there, too, Fifteen?” Annabelle looked up at me. Once more, I was faced with someone who was attached to me, but I say why.

“I don’t live with Zoe, but I could help pay for your food, and visit sometimes.”

Zoe gave me another look. It wasn’t exactly one of anger, and not one of joy, and not one of shock, but it held every one of those emotions.

“I will, then.” Annabelle stood forward, and took Zoe’s still outstretched hand. Zoe looked back at Annabelle before pulling Annabelle into her embrace.

“Let’s get you to our home, kiddo.” Zoe let Annabelle into the backseat, and we took our proper spots up front.

I looked at Annabelle from the rearview mirror. She was still, and reminded me somewhat of another still body I had seen in the backseat of a car.

When we got to Zoe’s home, Zoe took Annabelle inside and came back out after a few minutes.

“I don’t know what Annabelle does for fun, so I told her to explore the house, but to try not to make a big mess,” Zoe told me after she got into the car. She started the car, then started driving away.

“That’s reasonable.”

“I have a question for you, Fifteen.” Zoe looked very solemn. “Did you heart grow three sizes since I last saw you?”

I looked at my palms. “I’m not sure, truly. At first, I did nice things to appease other people. Now I just feel somewhat compelled.”

Zoe pulled the car over, and laid her head on the steering wheel. “Are you really going to help pay for everything?”

I put my hand on Zoe’s shoulder. She was slightly startled, but made eye contact.